Bomb threat shuts down bridge between Cincinnati and Covington after man threatens to ‘kill everyone’ if he ‘does not get $400k’ – as Coast Guard halts all Ohio River traffic and businesses are evacuated
- A man made a bomb threat to authorities at 5.24am on Wednesday morning
- The bridge and surrounding areas across the Ohio River have been evacuated
- Authorities are working to confirm if the ‘pipe bomb’ threat is credible
Authorities have shut down a bridge over the Ohio River after a man threatened to ‘kill everyone’ in a bomb threat.
Covington Police say they are blocking all vehicle and foot traffic from entering both sides of the Roebling Suspension Bridge between northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.
Sources told Fox19 that a man called authorities, threatening to ‘kill everyone if he did not get $400,000’ by placing pipe bombs on the bridge.
The anonymous man called Kenton County 911 center at 5.24am, adding that he would ‘shoot police’ if they pointed guns at him.
More than 9,000 people use the iconic bridge to commute daily, with authorities evacuating dozens of local businesses on either side of the river.
The US Coast Guard has shut down all river traffic in the area, with thousands of people affected by the shutdown.
The Coast Guard office in Columbus is warning all boats to avoid the area, and first responders are in the water to man the security zone.
Covington Police confirmed they were waiting for the state of Kentucky to send more resources but declined to comment further.
Covington, Cincinnati, Kenton County Police and Kenton County EMA are also responding to the threat.
Authorities are also working to confirm if the anonymous threat will affect any other bridges in the area.
Covington Police Captain Bornhorn told Lex18 that they have ‘every agency you can think of’ exhausting all resources.
He confirmed that they are working with the Department of Homeland Security, multiple bomb squads and even drone teams.
Investigators have searched the bridge but have not found a suspect, clearing the banks on both sides of the river.
They are still working to clear the bridge itself, and are asking residents to keep away from the area. Authorities have not confirmed if the threat is credible.
Roads on both sides of the river are closed about two blocks back from the bridge, with investigators hoping to reopen the bridge this morning.
